Detroit Lions new running back Eldra Buckley eager to contribute any way he can

ALLEN PARK -- New running back Eldra Buckley made one thing clear; he's willing to do anything the coaching staff asks him to help the Detroit Lions win football games.

"Whatever it takes to help this team, I feel like I can do it," Buckley said. "If that's coming in and blocking every play, then I'll do that every play. If it's coming in, running down on kickoffs and giving up my body, that's what I'll do. Whatever it takes to help this team continue winning, that's what I want to do."

Even though Buckley joined the Lions on Friday, he's likely to be active on Sunday because injuries have decimated the Detroit backfield.

"We'll get him ready for a role on Sunday," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He had a productive role last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's a guy that we had our eye on toward the end of camp. We'll get him up to speed pretty quickly."

Buckley doesn't believe he'll have much difficulty catching up.

"I think I'll adapt quick," he said. "It's different terminology, but once I get that, I think I'm be okay."

While Buckley obviously gives the Lions some insurance in the running game, his bigger role is likely to come on special teams. During practice on Friday he was running drills with the first team punting unit.

"I played every special teams (with the Philadelphia Eagles) - I played punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return. For the most part, that's what I like and I'll be doing here, helping special teams out as much as I can."

At 5-foot-9, 210 pounds, Buckley is compact. In two seasons with the Eagles he's carried the ball 36 times for 111 yards and a touchdown.

"He's a hard runner," Schwartz said. "He's strong and quick. He's young, but he's got some experience. He's played in games in the NFL, you're not talking about a guy that's never played before."